The Rev. Billy Graham undergoes partial hip replacement

Wednesday, January 07, 2004

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Evangelist Billy Graham underwent partial hip replacement surgery last night at Mayo Clinic's St. Luke's Hospital in Jacksonville, Fla. Graham, a Mayo Clinic patient for more than 50 years, was in Jacksonville for a semiannual checkup. He fell in his hotel room the night before his appointment, fracturing his left hip.

During the procedure, called a hemiarthroplasty, a surgical team, led by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Mary O'Connor, removed the ball of Graham's fractured femur and replaced it with a metal prosthesis. The femur is the upper leg bone that fits into the socket of the pelvic bone.

Rather than general anesthesia, Graham received specialized, continuous nerve blocks that provided immediate pain relief and will facilitate his recovery.

The surgery took about an hour, and Graham is expected to make a complete recovery.

Additional contact information:
     Larry Ross
     Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
     (972) 267-1111

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